Specialty coated label manufacturer to exhibit at the steel industry’s premier annual conference, May 4–6, 2026 — David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
WESTMORELAND, NH — Polyonics, Inc., a 30-year leader in engineering high-performance label materials for demanding manufacturing environments, will exhibit at AISTech 2026, taking place May 4–6, 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company will be present on the exhibition floor throughout the conference, where its team of materials engineers will be available to discuss metal tracking, traceability, and identification challenges with attendees.
AISTech is the premier annual conference organized by the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST), bringing together thousands of steel and metals professionals for three days of technical sessions, networking, and hands-on exposure to the technologies reshaping the industry. Attendees include mill operators, quality managers, procurement leaders, and process engineers from across the global metals sector.
HIGHdegree Track-and-Trace Labels: Purpose-Built for Steel and Aluminum Mills
Polyonics will use the event to showcase its HIGHdegree product line, a platform of proprietary label materials developed specifically for metal identification in the harshest mill environments. HIGHdegree addresses the most critical traceability challenges facing steel and aluminum producers today, including extreme process temperatures, aggressive chemical exposure, and the increasing pressure to eliminate manual marking systems from production lines.
Key performance specifications of the HIGHdegree line include:
- Adhesion and barcode readability maintained through hot-rolling, annealing, and reheat furnace processes
- Proprietary coatings engineered to resist molten metal splatter that destroys conventional tags
- Designed for pickling lines, cleaning baths, and harsh mill chemistry
- Machine-scannable barcodes providing positive identification from slab to shipment
- Direct thermal and thermal transfer print compatibility for integration with existing MES systems
Apex Series: Next-Generation High-Performance Label Materials
AISTech 2026 also marks a key showcase opportunity for the Apex Series, Polyonics’ latest breakthrough in engineered label materials for operations that span metals processing and electronics manufacturing. The Apex Series is designed for automotive suppliers, aerospace tier-ones, and EV battery producers who require labels that perform across both worlds.
Key performance specifications of the Apex Series include:
- +72% improved flux solder resistance over previous-generation materials
- +15% improved resistance to post-solder cleaning agents, including saponifiers, aqueous cleaners, and IPA-based solutions
- Proven heat resistance up to 572°F (300°C) without charring, yellowing, or print degradation
- ESD-safe label constructions meeting critical surface resistivity thresholds for electrostatic-sensitive environments
- UL recognition supporting compliance labeling requirements across multiple industry standards
Quote from Polyonics
“AISTech brings together exactly the professionals who understand why label performance matters — mill operators, quality managers, and process engineers who’ve seen firsthand what happens when a slab loses its identity mid-process. We’re looking forward to putting HIGHdegree in front of that audience and showing what a purpose-engineered label material can do.”
Juliet Whitehill, Polyonics
Visit Polyonics at AISTech 2026
Attendees are invited to visit the Polyonics (Booth #219) throughout the conference to speak directly with the company’s materials engineers, collect HIGHdegree and Apex Series samples, and review technical documentation. The team will be on hand to discuss specific application requirements, including slab tracking, coil identification, heat-resistant adhesion, and chemical resistance.
To schedule a meeting in advance or request a sample kit before the show, contact Juliet Whitehill at [email protected] or 603-903-6325.
About AISTech 2026
AISTech 2026 takes place May 4–6, 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. For full event details, session schedules, and registration information, visit aist.org/aistech.
About Polyonics
Polyonics, Inc. is a Westmoreland, New Hampshire-based manufacturer of specialty coated label materials for steel and aluminum, electronics, aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial applications. For over 30 years, the company has engineered high-performance label solutions that withstand extreme thermal, chemical, and mechanical conditions. Polyonics products are used by steel mills, aluminum producers, PCB fabricators, contract assemblers, and OEMs worldwide to support traceability, compliance labeling, and process reliability in the most demanding manufacturing environments. Products are UL Recognized, REACH compliant, and RoHS compliant.
Media Contact
Juliet Whitehill
Senior Product Manager
